Aversa, Diocese of (AVERSA, DIOCESI DI) - Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 325

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

AVERSA, DIOCESE OF. — In the province of Naples, immediately subject to the Holy See. It comprises 63 parishes; 251 diocesan priests and 46 regular clergy. The diocese covers an area of 361 sq. km. and has a wholly Catholic population of 187,500 (1948). The cathedral is dedicated to St Paul.

The city (Adversa), which arose in the Norman period, was granted by Emperor Henry II to
AVERSA - Madonna with Child and Angels, by Angelillo Arguccio (1468) - Cathedral.

Article illustration — AVERSA — In the province of Naples, immediately subject to the Holy See.
(photo Gab. Fet. Nas)

The city (Adversa), which arose in the Norman period, was granted a piece of territory near the ruins of Atella in 1022 by Emperor Henry II to their leader, Rainulfo, who was appointed Count of A. by Duke Sergio V of Naples (1029); in 1038 he received solemn investiture from Conrad II. The city followed the fortunes of its counts, and when the last of them was defeated, it was sacked and destroyed. It then passed into the hands of the Swabians, the Angevins, and was again sacked, destroyed, and rebuilt (1282). In 1601 it became part of the principality of Capua and then a fief of the Holy See.

After violent conflicts between the Holy See and the Normans, Leo IX, who was also threatened by the spreading Greek schism, acceded to the request of Riccardo I, Count of A., and elevated the city to a bishopric, making it heir to Atella and Cuma, around 1053. The first bishop whose name is known is Azzolino (1056). The beautiful cathedral, in Norman style, begun by Riccardo I (1053) and completed by his son Giordano, was almost destroyed by the earthquake of 1456; it was rebuilt according to the design of C. Beratti at the expense of Cardinal Innico Caracciolo at the beginning of the 18th century. It maintains the Latin cross plan, with three naves divided by pillars, and preserves around the high altar the original ambulatory with seven bays and ribbed vaults. Besides the Cathedral, Aversa has many fine churches, including: S. Lorenzo, l'Annunziata, S. Domenico, founded by Charles II in 1218 and then dedicated to St. Louis, King of France. Abbeys and monasteries: S. Lorenzo, S. Pietro, S. Angelo, S. Agata, S. Maria d'A. (of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Vergine), S. Maria di Casaluce.

BIBL.: Ughelli, I, cols. 485-95; G. Parente, Cenno storico sulla cattedrale di A., Naples 1845; id., Origini e vicende ecclesiastiche della città di A., 2 vols., ibid. 1857-58; Cappelletti, p. 434 ff.; L. Cirelli, La badia benedettina di S. Lorenzo di A., Aversa 1890; A. Groner, Die Diözesen Italiens von der Mitte des 10. bis zum Ende des 12. Jahrhunderts, Tübingen 1904, p. 37 ff.; F. Chalandon, Histoire de la domination normande en Italie et en Sicile, 2 vols., Paris 1907; Eubel, s.v., I-III.; A. Gallo, Codice diplomatico normanno di A., in Monumenti della Società napoletana di Storia Patria, I, Naples 1927. Noemi Crosorosa Scipioni